WATCH: House Being Demolished At Midnight While Occupants Were Asleep In Lagos

A disturbing scene unfolded in the Oworonshoki area of Lagos State late Tuesday night when an excavator arrived under the cover of darkness and began demolishing a residential building — while its occupants were reportedly still asleep inside.  

According to eyewitnesses, the demolition occurred around midnight as part of the ongoing wave of demolitions ordered by the Lagos State Government in the densely populated community. Residents say no prior warning was given before the operation began, sparking panic and confusion among sleeping families.  

One resident, who narrowly escaped with his children, told reporters that he woke up to the sound of a bulldozer crashing through the compound wall. “We thought it was a robbery or explosion,” he said. “By the time we rushed out, the machine had already torn into the building. People were screaming and trying to pull others out.”  

Eyewitness videos shared online show frightened residents running in different directions as debris fell. Shouts of “people are still inside!” could be heard in the background while the excavator continued to operate.  

Community leaders condemned the late-night exercise, describing it as “reckless, inhumane, and illegal.” They alleged that the demolition team acted without official identification or a court order, while security operatives accompanying them fired warning shots to disperse protesting residents.  

In recent weeks, Oworonshoki and its neighboring waterfront communities have witnessed a series of demolitions said to target illegal structures and properties built on drainage paths. However, affected families insist they were neither notified nor compensated before losing their homes.  

A mother of three, whose building was partially destroyed, sobbed as she described the ordeal: “We have nowhere to sleep. My husband is in shock. They came in the night like thieves to destroy our lives.”  

The Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development has yet to release an official statement on the latest incident, but sources within the ministry confirmed that demolition exercises were ongoing in several parts of the state to “restore urban order.”  

Civil rights groups, including the Justice and Housing Network, have called for an immediate suspension of the midnight demolitions, demanding a transparent investigation and accountability from state authorities.  

As dawn broke over Oworonshoki, dozens of displaced families could be seen sitting on heaps of broken concrete and wood — watching what remained of their homes dissolve into dust. Many say they were never against urban renewal, but pleaded for humanity and due process.  

“This is not just about buildings,” a youth leader said, standing beside the wreckage. “It’s about the dignity of the poor. You can’t wake people at midnight with bulldozers and call it development.”  

Watch the Video below: